Panthers activate Sam Darnold’s IR practice window: What it means for QB depth chart

The Carolina Panthers’ seemingly never-ending quarterback shuffle took another turn on Wednesday.

The Panthers announced the team has activated former starting quarterback Sam Darnold’s 21-day practice window on injured reserve.

Darnold will now have 21 days to practice and be elevated back to the 53-man roster. If Darnold is unable to be added to the roster within that time frame, he will be out for the remainder of the season.

Darnold was placed on injured reserve following final cuts in September. The former starter sustained a high ankle sprain during the Panthers’ preseason finale, and former head coach Matt Rhule categorized the sprain as significant.

Darnold lost out on the starting quarterback job before his injury, as Baker Mayfield outperformed him during training camp.

The Panthers traded a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in a July for Mayfield, who was expected to upgrade the position. However, through five games, Mayfield completed just 54.9% of his passes for 962 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. The Panthers were started 1-4 on the season with Mayfield leading the charge.

Following Rhule’s firing last week, Mayfield was revealed to have his own high ankle sprain. Mayfield was forced to sit for Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after it was divulged that he had a ligament tear in his left ankle.

Longtime backup PJ Walker started the first game of Steve Wilks’ tenure as interim head coach. Walker completed 10 of 16 passes for 60 yards against the Rams before suffering a neck injury in the fourth quarter. Practice-squad quarterback Jacob Eason, who received an elevation for the game, finished up the game with 59 passing yards and an interception on 60% completion percentage.

Wilks played coy on Monday about Walker’s status for Week 7’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also wouldn’t acknowledge whether or not Mayfield or Darnold would be cleared to play.

The Panthers have four quarterbacks under contract, and only Eason is healthy. The quarterback spot for Week 7 remains in flux.

Still, Wilks refused to name Mayfield as the starter when he recovers from his ankle injury. That could mean that the quarterback shuffling in Carolina has only just begun.

This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 12:36 PM.

Mike Kaye

The Charlotte Observer

Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription